Post Talk
North Branch Post #85
By Ron Rollins, Adjutant
June 2022
- Membership Meeting: June 14th @ 7:00PM
- Auxiliary Meeting: June 14th @ 7:00PM
- SAL Meeting: June21st @ 6:00PM
- Legion Riders Meeting: June 2nd @ 7:00PM
- Coffee Talk with the CVSO: June 21st @ 9:AM
- Legion Riders Dinner ride: Every Wednesday night @6PM
Rick Hals, Post Commander
Greetings everyone.
We are hard at work to make Midsummer the greatest ever. If you have a few hours you can donate it’s not too late! The Legion Family could use the help. I wish a happy Midsummer to all!
Monday, May 30, 2022 was the Color Guard/Honor Guard Memorial Day services at the 6 local locations, and of course it rained again. Even wet it’s still well worth it to honor our departed service men and women.
Remember Midsummer celebration is less than 3 weeks away. We will need a lot of HELP HELP HELP. So, please volunteer. We will need help on Monday June 13th at 8 AM to bring everything out of storage, Wednesday, the 15th to set up the tent and do the water barrels and fencing. With that done we move onto Thursday, Friday and Saturday were this always things that come up, so if at all possible come in and give a hand.
Our next membership meeting is June 14th at 7 PM. I look forward to seeing a large gathering there.
Rick Hals, Commander
North Branch Post 85
Michelle Still, Auxiliary President
I spent Memorial Day morning honoring our veterans at six local cemeteries. It is a privilege for me to spend time with our Post Honor Guard, Post Commander and our Auxiliary Chaplain as we remember our veterans. Col. Paul Johnson shared some words with us, too. Let us always remember our veterans!
Camille Wentz, Legion Riders Director
We have finalized plans and purchased supplies for the Kiddie Parade during Midsummer. I know my kids are excited and I think we will have a great turn out.
The Kiddie King and Queen have been crowned!
- Kiddie King, Breaker Williams is the son of SAL member and Legion Rider, Jake Williams and his wife Danica.
- Kiddie Queen, Lily Lou Wentz is mine and Tim’s (SAL) daughter.
Special thanks to Jake and Danica Williams and Angie Youngberg for all their help in planning the Kiddie Parade.
The Riders have a webpage on the Legions website now! Visitors can learn about the Riders, see events, register for the Christmas in July Ride and even pay online!! We are also now equipped to take electronic payments at our events.
Planning continues for the Christmas in July Ride. The route has been finalized by our talented Road Captain, Andy Specht. The group has been working to promote the ride and is getting a lot of interest, especially on Facebook.
Riders have been out enjoying the warmer temps on the bikes and attending events hosted by other posts. We attended the 10th District Legion Rider Semi-Annual Meeting and had a nice ride with that group after. We continued the next day by going to the Forest Lake Legion Riders Breakfast which is always delicious.
Over Memorial Day weekend, we rode in the Magnus Ride planned by 10th District Director, Matt Berens. The ride raised money for the Magnus Veterans Foundation. The ride ended at the Magnus Foundation which is beautiful! We had a ton of fun!
We have been busy networking and getting our names out there, and having a blast doing it! Kevin and Jen Kiernan have been attending a lot of events with me and representing us well! It has been very positive experiences as membership continues to grow.
I hope to see you all during Midsummer!
Camille Wentz
Charlie Hult, Commander-elect- SAL
For those that do not know me, I am the incoming commander of the North Branch Sons of American Legion. I would like to thank Jim Hunt for the great job he did for the past 5 years that he severed as Commander of the SAL, also for Tom Linder for the good job he did as the SAL Adjutant you both are a big part of the SAL’s success!
It was a great honor to be voted into the position of Commander and I hope that I will not disappoint Squadron 85. We have a great core group of members and would like to see us keep recruiting new members and stay involved in the community.
I would like to also welcome our new officers:
- Squadron Adjutant – Michael Johnson
- Squadron Finance Officer – Chris Fedun
- Squadron Membership Director – Bon Egan
- Squadron Liaison – Ron Rollins
- Sergeant-at-Arms – Rod Boatman
- Chaplain – Gary Johnson
Thank you all for stepping into these positions and I look forward to working with you to continue to build Squadron 85, as it has been in the past, well into the future.
Sincerely,
Charlie Hult
Ron Rollins, Adjutant
Election Results are in!! The following have been elected to lead the North Branch American Legion Family:
Legion:
- Commander: Rick Hals
- 1st Vice Cmdr: Mark Johnson
- 2nd Vice Cmdr: Duane Bengtson
- Chaplain: OPEN
- Sgt. At Arms: Randy Koivisto
- Historian: Bruce Christianson
- Judge Advocate: OPEN
- Service Officer: OPEN
Appointed positions:
- Adjutant: Ron Rollins
- Finance Officer: Bob Stirling
- Gaming Mgr: Glenn Pierce
- Asst. Gaming Mgr: Mike Johnson
- Club Mgr: Carene Johnson
Auxiliary:
- President: Michelle Still
- 1st Vice President: Bobbie Elmstrand
- 2nd Vice President: Open
- Sgt At Arms: Jenille Niehaus
- Secretary: Kelly Fedun
- Chaplain: Marcia Lemmerman
- Historian: Bev Otterness
Sons Of American Legion:
- Commander: Charlie Hult
- 1st Vice Commander (Membership): Bob Egan
- Adjutant: Mike Johnson
- Finance Officer: Chris Fedun
- Squadron Liaison: Ron Rollins
- Historian: Open
- Sgt at Arms: Rod Boatman
- Chaplain: Gary Johnson
American Legion Riders:
- Director: Camille Wentz
- Asst Director: Dan Nybeck
- Adjutant: OPEN
- Sgt at Arms: Andy Specht
- Historian: Austin Doll
- Chaplain: Ed Chromey
- Road Captain: Andy Specht
Upcoming events:
- June 3-4 – 10th District Convention at Milaca Post 178
- June 11th – 2022 Believet Motorcycle Run at Lino Lakes Post 566
- June 16-19th – Midsummer Weekend
- June 24-26th – SAL Detachment Convention at Legionville.
- June 30-July 4th – Forest Lake Legion 4th July Celebration
- July 14th-16th – 2022 Department Convention in Willmar, MN.
Announcement from the 10th District:
April 15, 2022
DISTRICT CONVENTION CALL TO ALL POSTS OF THE 10TH DISTRICT
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and ByLaws of The American Legion, Department of Minnesota- I, William Gordon, District Commander, do hereby call a Convention of the 10th District to convene in Milaca, Minnesota Saturday, June 4, 2022.
The business sessions of the Convention will be held at Milaca Post 178 commencing at 9:00 AM Saturday, June 4th, and will continue until adjournment.
The purpose of this Convention is to elect a District Commander, District Vice Commanders, District Historian, District Finance Officer, Delegates and Alternates to the National American Legion Convention and to conduct such other business of the 10th District that may properly come before the Convention.
The voting strength of each Post in the 10th District will be as provided in the 10th District Constitution and By-Laws Article IV, Section 7.
Certification of Delegates is to be sent to the 10th District Adjutant, Paul Orson, 26 East Road, Circle Pines MN 55014 © 612-325-2899 at least two (2) weeks prior to the Convention. (As required by Article IV, Section 8 of the 10th District Constitution and By-Laws). This is in addition to delegate registration sent to Milaca Post 178.
All members of The American Legion are invited to the Convention.
Your active participation at this Convention, representing your Post, helps keep our District strong.
William Gordon
10th District Commander
Enclosure: Convention Delegate Form
101st Tenth District
CONVENTION JUNE 3-4, 2022 MILACA, MINNESOTA
All Tenth District American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion (SAL) and American Legion Rider (ALR) members are cordially invited to the 101st Tenth
District Convention, JUNE 3-4, 2022. The Milaca American Legion Post 178, Auxiliary, SAL Squadron and Legion Riders are hosting the convention. The Post home is located at 160 2nd St SE, Milaca, MN 56353. Telephone (320) 982-0038.
The enclosed packet of information includes Convention PreRegistration, Convention Banquet Reservations, and information on area housing. Each item is self-explanatory with a mailing address and a point of contact for any questions you may have.
Legion and S.A.L sessions are scheduled to be held Saturday at the Post Home. Auxiliary sessions are scheduled to be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 245 Central Ave S, Milaca.
Legion Riders Convention is Saturday May 14, 11:00-1:00 PM at Anoka Post 102. You still must register and pay, this gets you registered for both days.
The Convention Banquet will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, at the Milaca Post Home, menu for the meal is Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Vegs, coleslaw, Rolls, Coffee, Dessert, cost will be, ($18.00) Social hour begins at 6:00 PM with dinner at 7:00 PM. There will be a short program conducted by District Commander Bill Gordon, District President Linda Deschene, SAL Commander Chance Harmon, and ALR Director Matt Berens, immediately following dinner. Reservations must be prepaid by May 20, 2022. NO TICKETS ARE SOLD AT THE DOOR.
Registration will be at the Post home on Friday June 3rd from 4:00-7:00 PM and then on Saturday June 4th, at the respective Legion and Auxiliary meeting locations from 7:00 AM to Noon. Prepaid registration is $15.00 per person; $18.00 registration day of convention.
Joint Memorial Service will be held on Saturday morning, June 4, 2022, at the Post starting at 8:00 AM.
Breakfast off menu will be available Saturday at the Legion bar, starting at 7-AM. There will also be rolls, coffee and juice available. Lunch will be at the Post for $8, from 11:30 to 12:45, Salads, Sandwiches, Pickles, Chips, Coffee.
On behalf of the Milaca Legion Family working together to make this Convention a huge success, we welcome you to YOUR Tenth District Convention.
Lew Ratajczak – General Chairman
Today, our employee introduction is Gaming Manager Glenn Pierce:
Glenn joined the United States Air Force in 1974 and served at Castle AFB in California for 2 years in Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) and 4 years at RAF Lakenheath in England. During the tour in England, he participated in NATO exercises in Lahr Germany.
His Father, Dale Pierce, was a Veteran of the Korean War and a long time Legion member and past Commander of the North Branch American Legion.
Glenn became a member in 1988 and became the Gaming Manager in 2017, and at the same time being the Post Adjutant for this post, on a temporary basis- for 12 years!
Glenn married his best friend, Sherri in 1988 and just celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. They have 3 children James (50), Amie (45) and Kristina (38) and 4 Grandchildren.
We know they enjoy traveling because they have taken many trips to Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and cruises to the Caribbean, making most of us jealous.
We are in debt to Glenn for the great job he does for Post 85, and he has been selected as this year’s Grand Marshal in the 2022 Midsummer Days Parade on Father’s Day.
Congratulations Glenn! Thank you for all you do for us!
If you have even a couple hours to come and help the Legion Family, working the Chuckwagon in the park, or security for the dances, it would be very much appreciated and we need you to call Commander Rick Hals to plug you into something you’re comfortable with… COME JOIN THE FUN!!
The Legion Riders had their first dinner ride to Grandy with eleven members and guests riding. It was good riding and good food and great service from the Brass Rail (who welcomed us on last minute notice). Thank you to our guests and Legion Riders.
Pictured above: NBALR; Lisa Edwards,Camille Wentz, Ed & Andrea Chromey, Ron & Diane Rollins. FLALR; Julie Kowalski, Doug & Rosie Carlson(not pictured). Guests included Potential Pine City Rider Gretchen Blaufuss, and a guest of Lisa’s, but also good friend and classmate of Ron’s – Dean Viskoe (Ron’s hometown recruiter in 1981).
***The July Post talk will be sent out a little later than usual due to the Adjutant being on vacation
